Moving Full Steam Ahead: 7 Young HBCU Alumni To Watch In 2013

Think HBCU alumni, and a familiar refrain of names usually comes to mind — Morehouse’s Spike Lee, Howard’s Debbie Allen, Tuskegee’s Tom Joyner. They headline a historic list of artists, athletes, politicians and community servants that have shaped American culture, and defined the black American experience.

While historic and lengthy, the lineage of black college alumni also plays a distinct role in shaping today’s negative-trending narrative on these institutions. The best graduates, like their relevance, are things of the past.

But Black colleges continue to produce exceptional talent across a wide-range of industries and professions. Here’s a primer on HBCU alumni you need to watch out for in 2013 –- and those esteemed HBCU alumni whose careers they most closely resemble.